Method and apparatus for a customizable low power RF telemetry system with high performance reduced data rate

Abstract

A customizable data acquisition device (DA) and a data collection system (DCS). The DA is remotely located for attachment to a variety of I/O devices, and uses an RF transceiver with a primary cache. A centrally located or mobile DCS with a secondary cache communicates with one or more DA's and stores DA data in the secondary cache. The DA has a programmable controller and an I/O interface capable of attaching to a variety of I/O devices. The DA primary cache holds data for bulk transfers to the DCS to minimize DA/DCS data transmission traffic. The DCS secondary cache accumulates data from the DA and allows data queries by multiple independent application programs (which may be located on the DCS, other DCSs, or remote host systems) without requiring retransmission of data from the DA for each query. Applications can query cached data in the secondary cache, and optionally query the primary cache or query the I/O device via the DA. Each DA is capable of peer to peer communication to allow DAs physically located outside of the transmission range of the DA/DCS to communicate with the DCS by routing data through other DAs in a network of DAs until the data can be transmitted to the DCS. I/O devices and DAs are shared by multiple applications in a hierarchical network of applications, host computers, DCSs, DAs, and I/O devices. A pass-through function allows the I/O interface to be emulated for software testing. When software testing is complete, the software is permanently stored in the DA.

We claim: 
     
       1. An RF telemetry system for transferring data between remotely located data acquisition devices and application programs, further comprising: at least one remotely located data acquisition device, further comprising: an I/O interface connector having means to attach to, and transfer data to and from, an I/O device;   an RF transceiver for transferring data to and from a data collection system;   a primary cache to hold data transferred to and from the I/O device and to and from the data collection system;   a microprocessor having means to control communication between the data acquisition device and the I/O device and means to control communication between the data acquisition device and the data collection system; and   programmable storage for use by the microprocessor; and     at least one data collection system, further comprising: means to transfer data to and from at least one application program;   a secondary cache to hold data transferred to and from the remotely located data acquisition device;   a processor having means to control communication between the data collection system and the application program and means to control communication between the data collection system and the data acquisition device; and   programmable storage for use by the processor;     whereby data received by the data acquisition device from an I/O device is stored in the primary cache of the data acquisition device until transferred to the data collection system and then stored in the secondary cache until transferred to an application program.   
     
     
       2. A system, as in claim 1, further comprising: CRC encryption means, further comprising: means to generate CRC information for data;   means to encrypt the CRC information; and   means to attach the encrypted CRC information to the data prior to transmission; and     CRC decryption means, further comprising: means to read the encrypted CRC information attached to the transmitted data;   means to decrypt the CRC information; and   means to use the decrypted CRC data to determine if the received data is valid.     
     
     
       3. A system, as in claim 2, wherein: the data collection system further comprises: first pincode storage for storage of a first predetermined pincode; and   means encrypt the CRC information with the first predetermined pincode; and     the data acquisition device further comprises: second pincode storage for storage of a second predetermined pincode; and   means to decrypt the CRC information with the second predetermined pincode.     
     
     
       4. A system, as in claim 3, wherein: the first predetermined pincode is stored in the data collection system and not transmitted to the data acquisition device; and   the second predetermined pincode is stored in the data acquisition device and not transmitted to the data collection system.   
     
     
       5. A system, as in claim 4, wherein the means to decrypt the CRC information and the data further comprises forward error correction means. 
     
     
       6. A system, as in claim 1, wherein the data acquisition device further comprises: a low power microcontroller, the microcontroller further comprising: means to deactivate the microprocessor by placing it in a low power state;   means to monitor the RF transceiver for signals requesting data; and   means to activate the microprocessor when a signal requesting data is received.     
     
     
       7. A system, as in claim 1, wherein the data acquisition device further comprises: power management means, further comprising: means to place the data acquisition device in a transmit mode when the RF transceiver is transmitting data;   means to place the data acquisition device in a data monitoring mode such that the RF transceiver is continuously monitoring for data;   means to place the data acquisition device in a normal mode such that the RF transceiver and microprocessor are both kept in a low power SLEEP mode, and are activated at predetermined times; and   means to place the data acquisition device in a power saver mode such that the RF transceiver and microprocessor are both kept in a low power SLEEP mode, and microprocessor is activated at predetermined times; the RF transceiver is activated under control of the microprocessor.     
     
     
       8. A system, as in claim 7, wherein the data acquisition device further comprises: digital pattern recognition means is used to recognize the received data;   digital signal strength detection means to control RF transceiver power levels; and   and digital filtering means to detect the presence of a valid RF carrier signal.   
     
     
       9. A system, as in claim 1, wherein the data acquisition device further comprises: digital pattern recognition means is used to recognize the received data;   digital signal strength detection means to control RF transceiver power levels; and   digital filtering means to detect the presence of a valid RF carrier signal.   
     
     
       10. A system, as in claim 1, further comprising: an I/O device attached to the data acquisition device;   the data acquisition device further comprises integral network communications software; and   the integral network communications software can be modified from the data collection system or the I/O device.   
     
     
       11. A system, as in claim 1, wherein the data acquisition system further comprises: writeable storage, the writeable storage having programmable means to bypass the microprocessor by mirroring signals from the RF transceiver on preselected input locations to preselected output locations on the I/O interface connector and mirroring signals received on preselected input locations of the I/O interface connector to preselected RF transceiver locations; and   an emulator microprocessor card, further comprising: data acquisition device connector means to connect the emulator microprocessor card to the data acquisition device;   I/O device connector means to connect the emulator microprocessor card to the I/O device;   an emulator microprocessor; and   emulator storage for use by the emulator microprocessor;     whereby the microprocessor in the data acquisition device is bypassed and the emulator microprocessor controls the data acquisition device.   
     
     
       12. An RF telemetry system for transferring data between remotely located data acquisition devices and application programs, further comprising: a plurality of remotely located data acquisition devices, each data acquisition device further comprising: an I/O interface connector having means to attach to, and transfer data to and from, an I/O device;   an RF transceiver for transferring data to and from a data collection system;   a primary cache to hold data transferred to and from the I/O device and to and from the data collection system;   a microprocessor having means to control communication between the data acquisition device and the I/O device and means to control communication between the data acquisition device and the data collection system;   means to communicate with and transfer data to other data acquisition devices;   means to store data received from another data acquisition device in its primary cache;   means to transfer data received from another data collection system to data collection system; and   programmable storage for use by the microprocessor; and     at least one data collection system, further comprising: means to transfer data to and from at least one application program;   a secondary cache to hold data transferred to and from the remotely located data acquisition device;   a processor having means to control communication between the data collection system and the application program and means to control communication between the data collection system and the data acquisition device; and   programmable storage for use by the processor;     whereby data received by the data acquisition device from an I/O device is stored in the primary cache of the data acquisition device until transferred to the data collection system and then stored in the secondary cache until transferred to an application program.   
     
     
       13. A system, as in claim 12, further comprising: CRC encryption means, further comprising: means to generate CRC information for data;   means to encrypt the CRC information; and   means to attach the encrypted CRC information to the data prior to transmission; and     CRC decryption means, further comprising: means to read the encrypted CRC information attached to the transmitted data;   means to decrypt the CRC information; and   means to use the decrypted CRC data to determine if the received data is valid.     
     
     
       14. A system, as in claim 13, wherein: the data collection system further comprises: first pincode storage for storage of a first predetermined pincode; and   means encrypt the CRC information with the first predetermined pincode; and     the data acquisition device further comprises: second pincode storage for storage of a second predetermined pincode; and   means to decrypt the CRC information with the second predetermined pincode.     
     
     
       15. A system, as in claim 14, wherein: the first predetermined pincode is stored in the data collection system and not transmitted to the data acquisition device; and   the second predetermined pincode is stored in the data acquisition device and not transmitted to the data collection system.   
     
     
       16. A system, as in claim 15, wherein the means to decrypt the CRC information and the data further comprises forward error correction means. 
     
     
       17. A system, as in claim 12, wherein the data acquisition device further comprises: a low power microcontroller, the microcontroller further comprising: means to deactivate the microprocessor by placing it in a low power state;   means to monitor the RF transceiver for signals requesting data; and   means to activate the microprocessor when a signal requesting data is received.     
     
     
       18. A system, as in claim 12, wherein the data acquisition device further comprises: power management means, further comprising: means to place the data acquisition device in a transmit mode when the RF transceiver is transmitting data;   means to place the data acquisition device in a data monitoring mode such that the RF transceiver is continuously monitoring for data;   means to place the data acquisition device in a normal mode such that the RF transceiver and microprocessor are both kept in a low power SLEEP mode, and are activated at predetermined times; and   means to place the data acquisition device in a power saver mode such that the RF transceiver and microprocessor are both kept in a low power SLEEP mode, and microprocessor is activated at predetermined times; the RF transceiver is activated under control of the microprocessor.     
     
     
       19. A system, as in claim 18, wherein the data acquisition device further comprises: digital pattern recognition means is used to recognize the received data;   digital signal strength detection means to control RF transceiver power levels; and   and digital filtering means to detect the presence of a valid RF carrier signal.   
     
     
       20. A system, as in claim 12, wherein the data acquisition device further comprises: digital pattern recognition means is used to recognize the received data;   digital signal strength detection means to control RF transceiver power levels; and   and digital filtering means to detect the presence of a valid RF carrier signal.   
     
     
       21. A system, as in claim 12, further comprising: an I/O device attached to the data acquisition device;   the data acquisition device further comprises integral network communications software; and   the integral network communications software can be modified from the data collection system or the I/O device.   
     
     
       22. A system, as in claim 12, wherein the data acquisition system further comprises: writeable storage, the writeable storage having programmable means to bypass the microprocessor by mirroring signals from the RF transceiver on preselected input locations to preselected output locations on the I/O interface connector and mirroring signals received on preselected input locations of the I/O interface connector to preselected RF transceiver locations; and   an emulator microprocessor card, further comprising: data acquisition device connector means to connect the emulator microprocessor card to the data acquisition device;   I/O device connector means to connect the emulator microprocessor card to the I/O device;   an emulator microprocessor; and   emulator storage for use by the emulator microprocessor;     whereby the microprocessor in the data acquisition device is bypassed and the emulator microprocessor controls the data acquisition device.   
     
     
       23. A method of transferring data between remotely located data acquisition devices and application programs in an RF telemetry system, including the steps of: connecting an I/O device to a remotely located data acquisition device with an I/O interface connector;   storing data transferred to and from the I/O device in a primary cache in the remotely located data acquisition device;   transferring data to and from the primary cache of the remotely located data acquisition device to the data collection system with an RF transceiver;   storing data transferred to and from the remotely located data acquisition device in a secondary cache in the data collection system;   using a microprocessor to control communication between the remotely located data acquisition device and the I/O device and to control communication between the remotely located data acquisition device and the data collection system;   storing program instructions for use by the microprocessor in programmable storage; and   transferring data to and from the secondary cache and at least one application program;   whereby data received by the data acquisition device from an I/O device is stored in the primary cache of the data acquisition device until transferred to the data collection system and then stored in the secondary cache until transferred to an application program.   
     
     
       24. A method, as in claim 23, including the additional steps of using a data collection system with a predetermined transmission range;   locating a first data acquisition device outside of the transmission range of the data collection system;   locating a second data acquisition device within the transmission range of the data collection system; and   transmitting data from the first data acquisition device to the second data acquisition device and then re-transmitting the data from the second data acquisition device to the data collection system;   whereby data acquisition devices can be remotely located outside of the transmission range of a data collection.   
     
     
       25. A method, as in claim 23, including the additional steps of: generating CRC information for data;   encrypting the CRC information;   attaching the encrypted CRC information to the data prior to transmission;   reading the encrypted CRC information attached to the received data;   decrypting the CRC information; and   using the decrypted CRC data to determine if the received data is valid.   
     
     
       26. A method, as in claim 25, including the additional steps of: storing a first predetermined pincode in a first pincode storage in the data collection system;   encrypting the CRC information with the first predetermined pincode;   storing a second predetermined pincode in a second pincode storage in the data acquisition device; and   decrypting the CRC information with the second predetermined pincode.   
     
     
       27. A method, as in claim 23, including the additional steps of: bypassing the microprocessor by mirroring signals from the RF transceiver on preselected input locations to preselected output locations on the I/O interface connector and mirroring signals received on preselected input locations of the I/O interface connector to preselected RF transceiver locations;   attaching an emulator microprocessor card between the data acquisition device and the I/O device; and   emulating the microprocessor on the data acquisition device with an emulator microprocessor on the emulator microprocessor card;   whereby the microprocessor in the data acquisition device is bypassed and the emulator microprocessor controls the data acquisition device.   
     
     
       28. A method of transferring data between a remotely located data acquisition device and multiple independent application programs in an RF telemetry system, including the steps of: connecting an I/O device to a data acquisition device with an I/O interface connector;   transferring data from an I/O device to the data acquisition device;   transferring data from the data acquisition device to the data collection system with an RF transceiver, the data acquisition device remotely located from the data collection system;   storing data transferred from the data acquisition device in the data collection system; and   accessing the data in the data collection system from a plurality of application programs;   whereby data transferred from the data acquisition device to the data collection system is read by multiple independent application programs after a single data transfer from the data acquisition device.   
     
     
       29. A method, as in claim 28, including the additional steps of: sharing access to the I/O device between at least two application programs;   executing at least one application program on a computer system which is remote from the data collection system; and   transferring data between the remote computer system and the data collection system;   whereby I/O devices on the data acquisition device are shared by multiple independent application programs distributed over a hierarchal computer network.